Arooj Ishtiaq
Fri Oct 10 2025
16 mins Read
When you open Sora 2 for the first time, that empty text box can feel intimidating. What should you write? How detailed should you be? Will the video actually match what you had imagined?
You are not alone if you feel this way. Most people struggle with their first few attempts because they treat prompts like casual descriptions instead of precise instructions. The difference between getting an average result and creating something truly cinematic comes down to how you structure your prompt.
This guide combines OpenAI’s official Sora 2 prompting methodology with 28 tested examples you can use right now on Sora 2.
Prompt Types for Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video Workflows
Before we dive into writing prompts, you need to understand the two main workflows available in Sora 2.
T2V
Text-to-Video takes a text input prompt for a video.
You describe your vision entirely with text. The AI generates every frame from scratch based on your prompt. This approach is perfect for original concepts, ideation from abstract ideas, cinematic scenes, storytelling, and product animations. The key here is being extremely detailed about subjects, actions, lighting, and camera movement since the AI is building everything from nothing.
I2V
Image-to-Video workflow takes an image as a prompt, say, the first frame.
It lets you start with a reference image and animate it using text prompts. This workflow is better for character animations where you need a consistent appearance, extending still photography, product videos from existing shots, or maintaining exact composition and style. When using this approach, your prompt should focus on describing motion and camera movement rather than re-describing what’s already visible in the image.
Many professional creators actually combine both approaches. They’ll use AI image generators first to create the perfect starting frame, then use image-to-video to bring it to life with precisely controlled animation.
How to Structure Your Prompts (OpenAI’s Official Method)
OpenAI provides a proven framework for writing Sora 2 prompts. You don’t have to follow this religiously, but it provides clear organization and has been tested extensively.
OpenAI Example 1: Animated Robot in Workshop
Style: Hand-painted 2D/3D hybrid animation with soft brush textures, warm tungsten lighting, and a tactile, stop-motion feel. The aesthetic evokes mid-2000s storybook animation — cozy, imperfect, full of mechanical charm. Subtle watercolor wash and painterly textures; warm–cool balance in grade; filmic motion blur for animated realism.
Inside a cluttered workshop, shelves overflow with gears, bolts, and yellowing blueprints. At the center, a small round robot sits on a wooden bench, its dented body patched with mismatched plates and old paint layers. Its large glowing eyes flicker pale blue as it fiddles nervously with a humming light bulb. The air hums with quiet mechanical whirs, rain patters on the window, and the clock ticks steadily in the background.
Cinematography:
Camera: medium close-up, slow push-in with gentle parallax from hanging tools
Lens: 35 mm virtual lens; shallow depth of field to soften background clutter
Lighting: warm key from overhead practical; cool spill from window for contrast
Mood: gentle, whimsical, a touch of suspense
Actions:
- The robot taps the bulb; sparks crackle.
- It flinches, dropping the bulb, eyes widening.
- The bulb tumbles in slow motion; it catches it just in time.
- A puff of steam escapes its chest — relief and pride.
- Robot says quietly: "Almost lost it… but I got it!"
Background Sound:
Rain, ticking clock, soft mechanical hum, faint bulb sizzle.
OpenAI Example 2: 1970s Rooftop Romance
Style: 1970s romantic drama, shot on 35 mm film with natural flares, soft focus, and warm halation. Slight gate weave and handheld micro-shake evoke vintage intimacy. Warm Kodak-inspired grade; light halation on bulbs; film grain and soft vignette for period authenticity.
At golden hour, a brick tenement rooftop transforms into a small stage. Laundry lines strung with white sheets sway in the wind, catching the last rays of sunlight. Strings of mismatched fairy bulbs hum faintly overhead. A young woman in a flowing red silk dress dances barefoot, curls glowing in the fading light. Her partner — sleeves rolled, suspenders loose — claps along, his smile wide and unguarded. Below, the city hums with car horns, subway tremors, and distant laughter.
Cinematography:
Camera: medium-wide shot, slow dolly-in from eye level
Lens: 40 mm spherical; shallow focus to isolate the couple from skyline
Lighting: golden natural key with tungsten bounce; edge from fairy bulbs
Mood: nostalgic, tender, cinematic
Actions:
- She spins; her dress flares, catching sunlight.
- Woman (laughing): "See? Even the city dances with us tonight."
- He steps in, catches her hand, and dips her into shadow.
- Man (smiling): "Only because you lead."
- Sheets drift across frame, briefly veiling the skyline before parting again.
Background Sound:
Natural ambience only: faint wind, fabric flutter, street noise, muffled music. No added score.
OpenAI Example 3: Simple Documentary Style (Showing Creative Balance)
Sometimes less is more. This shorter prompt from OpenAI shows how leaving details open gives the model creative freedom:
In a 90s documentary-style interview, an old Swedish man sits in a study and says, "I still remember when I was young."
This prompt works because “90s documentary” sets the style and lets the model choose camera lens, lighting, and color grade accordingly. The description “an old Swedish man sits in a study” gives just enough detail while allowing creative interpretation of the person and setting. The dialogue is clear and will likely be followed exactly.
However, many details are left unspecified like time of day, weather, outfits, character’s exact age, camera angles, cuts, and set design. Unless you describe these, Sora will make them up, which can lead to surprising and sometimes better results than you imagined.
OpenAI Example 4: Detective Interrogation (Showing Dialogue Structure)
This example from OpenAI demonstrates proper dialogue formatting for multi-character scenes:
A cramped, windowless room with walls the color of old ash. A single bare bulb dangles from the ceiling, its light pooling onto the scarred metal table at the center. Two chairs face each other across it. On one side sits the Detective, trench coat draped across the back of his chair, eyes sharp and unblinking. Across from him, the Suspect slouches, cigarette smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling. The silence presses in, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead light.
Dialogue:
- Detective: "You’re lying. I can hear it in your silence."
- Suspect: "Or maybe I’m just tired of talking."
- Detective: "Either way, you’ll talk before the night’s over."
Notice how the dialogue is in a separate block with clear speaker labels. Each line is short and natural, fitting the tense mood of an interrogation scene.
Recommended read: How To Use Sora 2
28 Tested Sora 2 Prompts You Can Use Today
The following prompts have been successfully tested on Sora 2 through ImagineArt. They’re presented in a simplified format for readability, but you can enhance any of them using the official template structure we covered earlier.
You can use these prompts in three ways. First, use them as-is for quick, effective results. Second, level them up by applying the full cinematography template structure. Third, go professional by expanding them with ultra-detailed production briefs for maximum control.
Prompts For Cinematic Videos & Storytelling
These prompts work best for emotional scenes, character moments, and narrative content. The optimal length is 15-20 seconds, and you’ll want to use text-to-video or image-to-video for consistent characters.
Prompt 1: Discovering Old Memories
A woman opens a dusty wooden trunk in a dimly lit attic and finds old photographs inside. Afternoon light streams through a small window, creating visible dust particles in the air. She sits on the wooden floor as her expression changes from curiosity to sadness while looking through the photos. The camera slowly pushes in toward her face. Gentle rain taps against the roof in the background. A soft piano melody plays underneath the ambient sounds.
Prompt 2: Tense Nighttime Encounter
Two people stand facing each other in a narrow city alley while steady rain falls on the wet pavement. Neon signs from nearby shops cast blue and red light across the scene, reflecting off puddles. The camera slowly moves forward between them as tension builds. One person finally speaks: “You should not have come back here.” Thunder rumbles distantly as silence follows the words.
Sora 2- Tense Night Time Encounter
Prompt 3: Warrior Character Entrance
A hooded warrior steps deliberately from deep shadows into bright moonlight with one hand resting on a sword hilt. The camera angle looks up from below to emphasize power and presence. Blue moonlight creates strong contrasts while fog drifts slowly across the ground. A long pause builds anticipation before any action begins. Cinematic orchestral music rises gradually. The visual style matches fantasy role-playing games.
Prompts For Product & Commercial Videos
These prompts are ideal for e-commerce, advertisements, and brand content. Optimal length is 10-15 seconds for social media and 20+ seconds for detailed showcases. Image-to-video works best when you have existing product photography.
Prompt 4: Premium Product Showcase
A luxury wristwatch rotates slowly on a reflective black surface in a minimalist studio setting. Studio lighting highlights the polished metal and intricate mechanical details visible through the crystal back. The camera orbits the watch in a completely smooth circle. Soft clicks and mechanical sounds play subtly. Modern corporate music underscores the premium aesthetic throughout.
Prompt 5: Unboxing Experience
Hands carefully open a product box on a clean white surface with soft natural shadows. The camera slowly zooms in as each layer of packaging is removed to reveal the product. Satisfying sounds accompany every action: paper tearing, plastic peeling, and the soft thud of the final reveal. Bright natural window light illuminates everything clearly. Upbeat background music maintains energy.
Prompt 6: Product Assembly Animation
An exploded view diagram shows all components of a smartphone floating in space before smoothly assembling together piece by piece. Each component rotates slightly to show all angles before clicking into place. Clean white background with soft shadows keeps focus on the product. Satisfying mechanical sounds accompany each connection. Modern minimal music plays throughout the technical demonstration.
Prompts For Corporate & Professional Content
Perfect for company videos, testimonials, and educational content. Optimal length is 15-30 seconds for testimonials and 10-15 seconds for B-roll. Use text-to-video or image-to-video with professional photography.
Prompt 7: Customer Testimonial Setting
A professional sits in a bright, modern office with large windows showing a blurred city view behind them. The background stays slightly out of focus to keep attention on the speaker. The camera gradually pushes in as they speak directly to the camera: “This platform completely changed how our team works together.” Soft ambient office sounds create an authentic atmosphere. Natural lighting feels professional and trustworthy.
Prompt 8: Expert Interview
A knowledgeable professional sits in a well-lit office with subtle background elements like bookshelves and plants slightly out of focus. The camera maintains eye level with slight depth of field, keeping the speaker sharp. They speak confidently while looking directly at the camera. Clear audio captures their words while very subtle ambient office sounds add realism. The lighting and composition feel trustworthy and professional.
Prompt 9: Cybersecurity Concept
Animated realistic 3D scenario inside a corporate office: a hacker’s email appears on a computer screen, a red alert flashes, a visual of data flowing out of the network to an external server, camera cut to worried employee, then graphic overlay ‘Risk identified’. Calm male voice-over: ‘Here’s how phishing infiltrates your organization in three steps.’ Soft technical background music.
Sora 2- Cybersecurity concept
Prompts For Nature & Travel Content
Best suited for destination marketing, documentaries, and lifestyle content. Optimal length is 15-20 seconds. Text-to-video works great for original scenes, or use image-to-video for animating travel photography.
Prompt 10: Tropical Island Reveal
A drone camera starts at beach level on white sand and steadily rises to reveal an entire tropical island from above. The ocean water transitions from crystal clear turquoise near the shore to deep blue farther out. Golden hour sunlight bathes the scene in warm tones as the camera climbs higher. The smooth upward movement reveals the full coastline and lush green interior. Gentle wave sounds blend with distant seabird calls. Relaxed island music enhances the peaceful mood.
Prompt 11: Mountain Peak Victory
A hiker reaches a mountain summit at sunrise and spreads both arms wide in celebration. The camera starts at a low angle and rises smoothly to reveal valleys filled with morning mist far below. Golden sunlight spreads across the landscape as the sun climbs over the horizon. Wind sounds mix with the hiker’s heavy breathing. Uplifting orchestral music gradually builds in intensity.
Prompt 12: Thunderstorm Approaching
Dark storm clouds roll across the sky over an open wheat field as the wind begins bending the grain in waves. The camera starts wide and slowly pushes forward toward the approaching storm front. Lightning flashes in the distance illuminates the clouds from within. Thunder rumbles with increasing intensity as the sound of the wind builds. Dramatic orchestral music enhances the power of nature.
Prompt 13: Mountain Lake Serenity
An aerial wide shot shows a pristine mountain lake completely surrounded by dense pine forests. The camera slowly circles the lake while maintaining a high altitude. Morning mist rises from the water’s surface as sunlight begins touching the treetops. Complete silence except for very faint wind through the trees and distant bird calls. The scene conveys peaceful isolation and natural beauty.
Sora 2 Mountain serenity
Prompts For Food & Lifestyle Content
Great for recipe videos, restaurant marketing, and lifestyle brands. Optimal length is 8-15 seconds for social media and 20+ seconds for full recipes. Image-to-video is recommended when you have existing food photography.
Prompt 14: Coffee Shop Morning
A barista pours steamed milk into a coffee cup, creating intricate latte art in the foam. Morning sunlight streams through large windows, illuminating steam rising from the cup. The camera captures the pour in slow motion from a close side angle. Sounds include the hiss of the steam wand, gentle cafe background chatter, and acoustic guitar music. The atmosphere feels warm and inviting.
Prompt 15: Grilled Meat
Raw steaks and ingredients like chili, garlic, and rosemary are suspended in air above a fiery grill, capturing dynamic motion and culinary action.
Prompt 16: Sushi Preparation
A sushi chef’s hands expertly slice fresh salmon with a sharp knife on a wooden cutting board. The camera captures the action in close-up from a side angle showing precise knife technique. Bright clean lighting highlights the fish’s color and texture. Sharp cutting sounds mix with subtle kitchen background ambiance. The video conveys skill and attention to detail.
Prompt 17: Travel & Retreat
Apres ski model luxury mimosa outside, sun shining on profile, dark sunglasses, a higher elevation model looking away over the mountain, more relaxed.
Sora 2-Travel & Retreat
Prompts For Action & Movement
Perfect for sports content, dance videos, and dynamic scenes. Optimal length is 10-15 seconds. Text-to-video works for original action, or use image-to-video for animating sports photography.
Prompt 18: Skateboard Trick
A skateboarder performs a kickflip in a concrete skate park during golden hour. The camera follows the board in slow motion as it rotates in the air. Wheels scrape against the concrete as the skater lands the trick smoothly. Urban ambient sounds mix with the skateboard sounds. Energetic indie rock music plays in the background. The lighting creates long dramatic shadows.
Prompt 19: Dance Performance
A dancer performs fluid movements in an empty warehouse with dramatic side lighting, creating strong shadows. The camera circles around the dancer continuously as they move through the choreography. Dust particles float visibly in the light beams. The only sounds are the dancer’s footsteps and breathing with atmospheric electronic music underneath. The mood feels intense and artistic.
Sora 2 - Beautiful Dance Perfomance
Prompts For Architectural & Real Estate
Designed for property tours, interior design, and architectural showcases. Optimal length is 20-30 seconds. Image-to-video works best with existing property photography.
Prompt 20: Luxury Home Walkthrough
The camera glides smoothly through a modern architectural home, starting from the grand entrance hall. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood each room with natural light as the view progresses forward. Smooth gimbal movement carries the viewer from living space to kitchen to bedroom seamlessly. Soft footsteps on hardwood floors mix with very subtle ambient music. The pacing feels elegant and unhurried throughout.
Prompt 21: Street Market Atmosphere
The view moves through a busy street market at dusk as vendors begin turning on their lights. The camera glides naturally through the crowd as if someone is walking with a steady hand. Colorful products, hanging lanterns, and busy vendor stalls fill the frame. Layered sounds create atmosphere: vendors calling out to customers, music from nearby shops, and conversations in different languages. The energy feels vibrant and authentic.
Prompts For Abstract & Artistic Content
Works wonderfully for social media content, artistic projects, and satisfying videos. Optimal length is 5-10 seconds for loops and 10-15 seconds for complete sequences. Text-to-video is the way to go for abstract concepts.
Prompt 22: Satisfying Paint Pour
Paint in bright colors pours in extreme slow motion, creating hypnotic swirling patterns as different colors mix together. A macro lens captures every detail of the flowing paint against a dark background. The video loops seamlessly back to the beginning point. Gentle ambient sounds accompany the visual movement. Vibrant colors pop dramatically against the black surface.
Prompt 23: Flower Blooming
An extreme close-up captures a rose blooming in accelerated time-lapse with every petal visible in sharp detail. Tiny dewdrops cling to the petals and catch the morning light beautifully. Soft diffused natural lighting keeps colors vibrant without harsh shadows. The camera gradually zooms in tighter as the bloom opens fully. Gentle wind sounds and distant birds create a peaceful soundscape.
Prompts For Cinematic Environments & Mood Pieces
Excellent for establishing shots, B-roll, and atmosphere creation. Optimal length is 12-20 seconds. Text-to-video works well for original environments.
Prompt 24: City Night Drive
A first-person view from inside a car driving through a city at night with rain on the windshield. Neon signs and streetlights blur and streak through the wet glass. The camera stays fixed on the road ahead as windshield wipers sweep rhythmically. Sounds include rain hitting the car, wipers moving, and muffled city noise outside. Moody electronic music plays softly.
Sora 2- City Night Drive
Prompt 25: Abandoned Factory Interior
Shafts of dusty afternoon light cut through broken windows in an abandoned industrial warehouse. The camera slowly glides forward between rusted machinery and overgrown vines creeping through cracks in the concrete floor. Particles of dust drift lazily through the light beams. The space feels both eerie and beautiful as nature reclaims the industrial decay. Distant dripping water echoes through the empty space. Wind whistles softly through broken glass.
Prompts For Social Media & Marketing Content
Made for quick, engaging content, before/after comparisons, and transformations. Optimal length is 5-10 seconds. Choose text-to-video or image-to-video depending on your concept.
Prompt 26: Transformation Comparison
A split screen shows a cluttered desk workspace on the left side and the same desk completely organized on the right side. The camera pans smoothly from the messy version to the clean version. Bright overhead lighting illuminates both sides equally. Quick transitions with subtle click sounds mark the change. Text appears briefly in the middle: “20 minutes of work.”
Prompt 27: Product Feature Highlight
A smartphone sits on a clean marble surface in dramatic lighting. The screen suddenly illuminates, showing a vibrant app interface with smooth animations. The camera slowly orbits the phone as the screen cycles through three key features, each appearing with a satisfying transition effect. Modern upbeat electronic music pulses in sync with each screen change. Soft reflections dance across the marble surface.
Prompt 28: Quick Recipe Teaser
Ingredients drop one by one onto a wooden cutting board in quick succession: fresh basil leaves, ripe tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and a drizzle of olive oil. Each ingredient lands with a satisfying thud or splash. The camera captures everything from directly overhead with bright, even lighting. The final frame shows all ingredients artfully arranged. Upbeat cooking show music plays throughout. Text overlay appears at the end: “Full recipe in bio.”
Getting Started with Your Own Videos
Ready to start creating cinematic videos with Sora 2? ImagineArt offers the most accessible way to use Sora 2 with a straightforward credit system and flexible pricing plans.
Whether you want to test the technology with the free plan or dive into professional video production with unlimited credits, ImagineArt provides instant access to Sora 2, eliminating complicated setup and waiting lists. The platform includes both standard Sora 2 and Sora 2 Pro, so you can choose the right quality level for each project. Start transforming your ideas into professional videos today at ImagineArt.
Looking for more prompt guides? Read Runway Gen-4 Prompt Guide | Runway Act II Prompt Guide | Kling 2.1 Prompt Guide | PixVerse v5 Prompt Guide | ImagineArt 1.0 Prompt Guide | Veo 3.1 Prompt Guide
Arooj Ishtiaq
Arooj is a SaaS content writer specializing in AI models and applied technology. At ImagineArt, she creates sharp, product-focused content that helps creators and businesses understand, adopt, and get real value from AI tools.
